New Providers at Norton Healthcare
Matthew R. Lyons, DO, is an emergency medicine physician with the Norton Healthcare Emergency Medicine Department. He earned his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee. He completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Lyons is trained in the evaluation and management of a broad spectrum of acute medical and traumatic conditions and provides treatment for patients facing urgent and life-threatening situations. His clinical interests include emergency medical services, and he values the coordination between prehospital providers and emergency departments to ensure seamless, timely care.
Lyons’ patient care philosophy centers on empathy and respect. He strives to treat every patient as he would a member of his own family, emphasizing clear communication, attentive listening, and compassionate care so patients feel heard, supported, and cared for during difficult circumstances.
David L. Yerkes, DO, is a hospital medicine physician with Norton Hospitalists. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his family medicine residency at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. He is board certified in family medicine.
Yerkes provides comprehensive inpatient care to adults hospitalized with acute medical conditions, coordinating treatment plans to support recovery and safe transitions of care. He manages all aspects of inpatient care, including diagnosis, treatment, medication management and coordination with nurses, specialists, and care teams.
His patient care philosophy centers on compassion, communication, and respect, helping patients and their families understand the care plan and what to expect throughout the hospital stay. He values teamwork, thoughtful decision-making, and creating an environment where patients feel supported and confident in their care.
In addition to clinical practice, Yerkes brings experience in health care leadership, quality improvement, utilization management and hospital operations. He also serves as a physician in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has held multiple leadership roles as a medical officer in operational and administrative capacities.
Nicole S. Harris, DO, Emergency Medicine
Raja Mittapalli, MD, Obstetric Hospitalist
Gene Shilkrot, MD, Anesthesiology
Dessi Slavova, MD, Hospital Medicine
New Providers at Norton Children’s
Samicchya Adhikari, DO, is a pediatric psychiatrist with Norton Children’s Behavioral and Mental Health. She earned her medical degree from Kansas City University Medical School in Missouri. Adhikari completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, followed by a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. She is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.
Adhikari specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental health conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults. She develops individualized treatment plans that may include medication management, therapy, family support, and coordination with schools and other care providers. Adhikari believes in providing thoughtful, evidence-based care that builds on each child’s strengths. She works closely with patients and families to make shared decisions that reflect their goals and values, while creating a supportive and trauma-informed environment.
Felix W. Tsai, MD, MBA, is a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon with Norton Children’s Heart Institute. He earned his medical degree from McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his residency in general surgery at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, then completed fellowships in cardiovascular surgery and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. He is board certified in congenital cardiac surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Tsai provides care for infants, children, and adults with complex congenital heart disease. He specializes in advanced heart failure treatments, including pediatric heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices (VADs), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
His clinical and research interests include pediatric VAD therapy, ECMO, and improving outcomes for patients with advanced congenital heart disease. Tsai has published research in peer-reviewed journals and regularly speaks at national and international medical meetings about pediatric heart failure and mechanical circulatory support. He is actively involved in teaching, research, and collaboration with physicians around the world.
New Cardiology Specialists Join Harrison Memorial Hospital
CYNTHIANA — Harrison Memorial Hospital is expanding its cardiology program with the addition of two cardiology specialists who will provide additional access to advanced heart care for patients in Cynthiana and the surrounding Central Kentucky region.
Cardiac electrophysiologist Auras Atreya, MD, and cardiologist B.K. Srivastava, MD, joined the Harrison Memorial Hospital cardiology program, working alongside cardiologists Matthew Shotwell, MD, and Yaz Daaboul, MD.
The addition strengthens the hospital’s ability to provide a wide range of cardiovascular services locally, including advanced diagnostic testing, heart rhythm management, and treatment for complex heart conditions.
Atreya earned his bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India. He then earned his Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University of School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts. He completed a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Massachusetts-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts, and then completed advanced fellowships at University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, in cardiac electrophysiology and interventional/structural cardiology.
Atreya specializes in cardiac electrophysiology and focuses on conditions involving heart rhythm disorders. His services include atrial fibrillation ablation, catheter ablation, conduction system pacing, lead extraction, left atrial appendage occlusion, and treatment of ventricular tachycardia and other ventricular arrhythmias.
Srivastava earned his medical degree from GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, India. He completed his surgical residency at GSVM Medical College and later completed his residency in internal medicine at Bridgeport Hospital, affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine, Bridgeport, Connecticut. He then completed a fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati. Srivastava is a diplomate of the American Board of Cardiology and is board certified in nuclear cardiology. He has more than 20 years of experience and will see patients in the HMH Specialty Clinic to expand access to cardiology services for patients in the community.
Harrison Memorial Hospital Offers Advanced Leadless Pacemaker Technology
CYNTHIANA — Harrison Memorial Hospital (HMH) announced the addition of advanced leadless pacemaker technology in its HMH Cardiology program, further expanding access to innovative heart care services for the Central Kentucky community that it serves.
The new technology, the AVEIR™ Leadless Pacemaker System, is now being performed at HMH by Matthew Shotwell, MD, interventional cardiologist. This minimally invasive device represents a significant advancement in cardiac rhythm management, offering patients a modern alternative to traditional pacemakers.
Unlike traditional pacemakers, which require leads (wires) and a surgical pocket under the skin, leadless pacemakers are implanted directly into the heart through a catheter-based procedure. This approach eliminates the need for leads and a chest incision, reducing the risk of complications and infection while improving patient comfort. The procedure is performed in the HMH catheterization lab using advanced imaging guidance and minimally invasive techniques.
The leadless pacemaker technology offers faster recovery times, no visible device or surgical scar, fewer activity restrictions after healing, and no risk of lead-related complications. The smaller device is placed entirely within the heart, allowing for a more streamlined and less invasive treatment option for appropriate patients.
“We are committed to bringing the latest advancements in cardiovascular care to our patients,” says Kathy Tussey, HMH chief executive officer. “Offering leadless pacemaker technology in our cardiology services enhances our ability to provide high-quality, innovative care close to home.”
The AVEIR™ system includes options for single and dual chamber pacing, allowing physicians to tailor treatment based on each patient’s specific cardiac needs.
Shotwell performs these procedures at HMH, providing patients with access to advanced cardiac care close to home.
“This technology allows us to treat patients with a less invasive approach while maintaining effective cardiac pacing,” says Shotwell. “It’s an important step forward in how we care for patients with heart rhythm conditions.”